Voice of Byron

Byron Shire Council infrastructure services director, Phil Holloway, said the bulk earthworks and drainage are now complete and the turf is about to go down in mid-August subject to weather.

“We’re expecting the turf to take about ten weeks to establish, depending on weather conditions, and we could see casual games at the site in about November,” he said.

Progress to date includes:

• Bulk earthworks and field drainage is complete
• LED field lighting has been installed and connected
• Electrical sub-station and bulk electricity connection has been installed
• Sewer pump station is installed
• Building foundations, blockwork, internal frames and roof are complete at the club house
• Permanent car park and bus bay has been commenced

Mr Holloway said that this will be the first New South Wales sports field fully lit with the Sylvania Briteline^TM LED floodlights and one of the first in the country.

“The technology has only been available in the past six months within Australia.

“The new lights will use less power plus have significantly less ongoing maintenance costs and impacts to the field due to globes not needing to be replaced on a regular basis,” he said.

Upcoming work includes completing the clubhouse for internal painting, tiling, flooring and fit out.

Facilities at the site will include changes rooms for home and away teams, referee room, medical room, canteen, covered viewing areas, public toilets and tiered seating. Landscaping and compensatory habitat works will also be undertaken.

The seven-hectare site was purchased in 2014 and is centrally located to service a number of local townships including Ocean Shores, Billinudgel, South Golden Beach, New Brighton and Brunswick Heads.

With two street frontages, the corner block has good access for transport plus the advantage of cycleways right to the entrance of the field.

Planning for the second playing field, to be located at the southern end of the site, will also commence in 2016-17.